Manatee Sightings at Edisto

 The large and lumbering sea cow is becoming a more common sight during summertime in the Lowcountry waterways. Typically they can begin showing up when the water temps warm in late May, and SCDNR releases tips to the public on how to be manatee friendly. It was early August when a curious manatee swam up into Big Bay Creek and took up position under the docks at Edisto Water Sports and Tackle. This wasn’t the first year that a manatee has been attracted to the sound of running water underneath the minnow tank there, and kayak guide Sean Harrington was there to greet him.

Manatee at Edisto Water Sports Dock

“The weather had been hot that week, and we had plenty of kayak tours then, but we never saw the manatee except right under the dock,” said Harrington. “I think they know how to navigate these creeks without being seen, and that can hear our running water and are curious about it. I got my phone out and made a video of the manatee essentially parked under the dock, right at the surface of the water for all to see. It’s always such a great experience to see a manatee at Edisto.”

            

Lyndsey Young is the owner at Edisto Water Sports and Tackle (EWT) and she said the most they have ever seen at one time was a total of three manatees at once. Federal and state regulations outline that it is illegal to play with or harass manatees, which includes touching or feeding them. “We know not to touch the manatees at the dock, and each encounter gives us a chance to raise awareness with visitors about having respect for our manatees. The manatees seem curious about activities we do every day, like washing down the boats after a day’s fishing, and we are always glad to see them.”

To view the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Press and Standard. 

To view past blog entries from Edisto in 2021 click on Edisto River Sweep - CCA Barge Sunk off Edisto - Belles Beach Walk - Vacasa Purchases Atwood-  Gullah Blessing for Hutchinson House - Town Budget - Town Turtle Patrol - Edisto Billfish Tourney 

To view past blog entries from Edisto in 2019 click on ACE Basin Appreciation - Dolphin Slam - Jim Bost Memorial - Sea Turtle Nesting

 To view past blog entries from 2018 at Edisto click on Thirsty Whale Tours - I Love Edisto Auction - Jim Bost Memorial - Dolphin Slam - Coastal Geology - Grits Cook Off

To view past blog entries from 2017 at Edisto click on Holiday Business After Hours - EIOLT Oyster Roast - Billfish Tourney - Bingo - Tomato Open- I Love Edisto Auction - Jim Bost Memorial - Shark Tourney

To view past blog entries from 2016 at Edisto click on Serpentarium - Jim Bost Memorial - Dolphin Slam - Cobia Tourney - Spring Shorebird Synergy - Bovine Bones on Beach - Edisto River book 

2021 Beidler Forest - Flora and Fauna

Swamp Sentinel - Barred Owl 

 The folks at Audubon South Carolina oversee a unique swath of the Lowcountry at Beidler Forest, including 1000-year old cypress trees in Four Holes Swamp. The term 'four holes' refers to the four lowest points fo the swamp, that continue to hold water even during a time of drought. Of course rainfall in 2021 has been ample and not only is the swamp wide with water right now, it has a decent flow moving through it. Beidler Forest empties directly into the Edisto River, and functions to conserve and preserve a large watershed. In addition to bottomlands, the Beidler Forest includes upland habitats and miles and miles of edge habitat where the swamp transitions to high ground.

Bedded doe and playful fawn

This blog entry will not document all the the flora and fauna found here, but rather what was encountered on Monday September 27. Migratory songbirds encountered included American redstart and black-throated blue warbler. The prothonotary warblers which dominate Beidler Forest had already left on their Southbound migration. We did not encounter a feral hog, but we did witness large animals in the form of white-tailed deer. The deer walk in the swamp water with ease, and they find solitude in the heart of the swamp where no hunting is allowed. A barred owl is a large raptor that is at home in the swamps of the Lowcountry, and we found one taking an afternoon nap not far from the boardwalk.

Damsel Fly

It is wildflower season in the swamp and we saw two kinds of lobelia, both purple and red. Poison ivy is omnipresent in this environment, so beware the leaves on fuzzy vines. Damsel flies and hovering flies were common on this day, and despite a lack of wind we were not bothered by mosquitoes. Many yellow-bellied slider turtles were encountered, and crawfish were out scavenging. We even witnessed a crawfish  battle royale with the largest crawdad the victor. To take a video tour of the swamp click on Beidler Forest. 

Lobelia Wildflower 

To view past blog entries about Audubon / Beidler Forest click 2021 Name That Snake - 2017 Audubon Insectarium - 2016 Prescribed Fire -  2015 Boardwalk Bonanza - 2014 SAMBI Award - 2013 Audubon Aquarium - 2012 Audubon's Aviary Book- 2011 Audubon Magazine - 2009 Wildlands Philanthropy Book 

To view past Field Notes and Photos click January 2021 - July 2020-  June 2020 -  March 2020 - June 2019 - July 2018 - February 2018 -  December 2017 - September 2017 - January 2017- December 2016 - June 2016 - February 2016- December 2015 - October 2015 - September 2015 - August 2015 - July 2015 - June 2015 - February 2105 - October 2014 -  September 2014 - August 2014 - June 2014 - March 2012 - February 2012 - October 2011 - September 2011 

2021 Beidler Forest - Name That Snake

Two Water Moccasins go Head-To-Head about Swamp Matters

Despite some cooler temps in the Lowcountry over the final weekend of September, when my group visited Francis Beidler Forest on September 27, it was plenty warm enough for reptiles. While I was keen to look for migratory songbirds, other members of the group wanted to see reptiles, and they were blessed with lots of snakes laying in the sun. A few turtles were spotted on top of logs, and floating with the current of the blackwater swamp water. By far the most common snake we saw was the venomous water moccasin, and Four Holes Swamp has long been a stronghold for this species.

Brown Water Snake right after a BIG meal

This swamp is home to old growth forest including 1000-year old cypress trees. Old hardwood trees can sometimes be hollow in the middle, since the living part of the tree is on the outside under the bark. Lots of wildlife have learned to utilize these cases as a place to escape too. But plenty of trees die off and eventually fall down, but they remain a resource for years to come. These trees laying on the forest floor are the absolute favorite places for snakes and turtle to lay on.

The first snake we saw was actually a pair of water moccasins (also know as cottonmouths) laying close to each other on one of the these felled logs. We could observe the tongue of one snake actively going in and out, while the other snake seemed motionless. Were they family or friends? We made our photos from the safety of the boardwalk and left them to their own devices about who had top billing on that log. Just about ten paces down the boardwalk we saw a brown water snake on a partially submerged log, and it had a full stomach and we guessed that it just ate a small fish. About an hour later we saw a red-bellied water snake. To see a video of Tony Mills at Beidler talking about these snakes click Spring Island Trust. 

Banded Water Snake with bright markings

To view past blog entries about Audubon / Beidler Forest click 2017 Audubon Insectarium - 2016 Prescribed Fire -  2015 Boardwalk Bonanza - 2014 SAMBI Award - 2013 Audubon Aquarium - 2012 Audubon's Aviary Book - 2011 Audubon Magazine - 2009 Wildlands Philanthropy Book 

Most Common Snakes at Beidler Forest

To view past Field Notes and Photos click January 2021 - July 2020-  June 2020 -  March 2020 - June 2019 - July 2018 - February 2018 -  December 2017 - September 2017 - January 2017- December 2016 - June 2016 - February 2016- December 2015 - October 2015 - September 2015 - August 2015 - July 2015 - June 2015 - February 2105 - October 2014 -  September 2014 - August 2014 - June 2014 - March 2012 - February 2012 - October 2011 - September 2011 

2021 Edisto River Sweep

 

2019 Edisto River Sweep Volunteers

The Keep Edisto Beautiful organization works in conjunction with Edisto Water Sports to put on the Edisto River Sweep each year. On Saturday, September 25 at 10 a.m. volunteers will depart from the dock on Big Bay Creek and paddle in search of garbage to collect. The date of the event is selected based on having a high tide, since a low tide outing will not allow access into the marsh where trash can get hung up. The kayaks are provided for free to the volunteers, courtesy of Edisto Water Sports, which has been hosting Edisto River Sweep for many years.

Kelley Moore is the Executive Director of the Keep Edisto Beautiful organization, and works for the Town of Edisto. “We are an affiliate of the Keep S.C. Beautiful group, and we get grant money from Palmetto Pride in order to provide trash bags and trash grabbers for volunteers to have,” said Moore. “SCDNR is active in tracking all of the River Sweeps, and we have a partnership with the Friends of Edisto Beach State Park (FreeSpace) too. But really the most important cog is Lindsey Young who owns Edisto Water Sports and Tackle, because she heads up Edisto River Sweep at her business and provides the kayaks.”

            

“We average about a dozen volunteers each year for Edisto River Sweep,” said Young. “Our highest number was the year we had 17 volunteers. I think the fact that you have to go out in a kayak can sometimes limit the number of volunteers, but we are hoping for a record turnout this year, and we will have the kayaks ready to go at no charge. We hope that the Edisto River Sweep mantra will be a culture one day where folks will target trash in the marsh during their everyday boat trips, in order to keep our Edisto marshes looking sharp.”

To view the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Press and Standard. 

To view past blog entries from Edisto in 2021 click on CCA Barge Sunk off Edisto - Belles Beach Walk - Vacasa Purchases Atwood-  Gullah Blessing for Hutchinson House - Town Budget - Town Turtle Patrol - Edisto Billfish Tourney 

To view past blog entries from Edisto in 2019 click on ACE Basin Appreciation - Dolphin Slam - Jim Bost Memorial - Sea Turtle Nesting

 To view past blog entries from 2018 at Edisto click on Thirsty Whale Tours - I Love Edisto Auction - Jim Bost Memorial - Dolphin Slam - Coastal Geology - Grits Cook Off

To view past blog entries from 2017 at Edisto click on Holiday Business After Hours - EIOLT Oyster Roast - Billfish Tourney - Bingo - Tomato Open- I Love Edisto Auction - Jim Bost Memorial - Shark Tourney

To view past blog entries from 2016 at Edisto click on Serpentarium - Jim Bost Memorial - Dolphin Slam - Cobia Tourney - Spring Shorebird Synergy - Bovine Bones on Beach - Edisto River book 

CCA Sinks Barge at Edisto 60 Artificial Reef

Barge with Shark Statue Going Down to Edisto 60

 The nearshore fishery off of Edisto Beach should be more productive in the future due to the creation of a new artificial reef on Tuesday September 14. A barge that is 260-feet long was sunk at the Edisto Nearshore Reef in 60-feet of water, and it will add habitat for fish of all sizes to utilize. The Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) is adding new reef material to all of South Carolina’s permitted reef sites by 2030, in conjunction with SCDNR and sponsors like Sea Hunt Boats. The new artificial reef at Edisto is CCA’s largest one so far and is sure to be a magnet for cobia, redfish, sharks and other marine life.

Barge at Stevens Towing, with added boxcars

Some of the first artificial reefs off S.C. were fabricated cement balls that provided fish with habitat on an otherwise flat and featureless ocean bottom. Then fisheries managers graduated to using other things such as excess military equipment like tanks, after they had been cleansed of pollutants. Now the game has changed to include large boats and barges, because they are easily towed to a nearshore reef location and once sunk, they provide more of a 3-D habitat underwater, which fish respond well too.

            

By the numbers, the barge sunk 13-miles off Edisto Beach is 260-feet long, 50-feet wide and 30-feet deep. The barge alone would provide extra habitat, but the reef makers have learned they can add other structures to a barge to create a higher quality reef. In this case, 12 shipping containers were welded to the deck of the barge, and holes were cut in them so that fish can swim through and navigate the entire structure. The Town of Mt. Pleasant recently demolished their water tower and donated part of that superstructure, which is also attached to the deck of the barge, providing even more surface area and relief.

To view the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Press and Standard. 

To view past blog entries from Edisto in 2021 click on Belles Beach Walk - Vacasa Purchases Atwood-  Gullah Blessing for Hutchinson House - Town Budget - Town Turtle Patrol - Edisto Billfish Tourney 

To view past articles I wrote for CCA and TIDE magazine click on 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009

To view past blog entries from Edisto in 2019 click on ACE Basin Appreciation - Dolphin Slam - Jim Bost Memorial - Sea Turtle Nesting

 To view past blog entries from 2018 at Edisto click on Thirsty Whale Tours - I Love Edisto Auction - Jim Bost Memorial - Dolphin Slam - Coastal Geology - Grits Cook Off

To view past blog entries from 2017 at Edisto click on Holiday Business After Hours - EIOLT Oyster Roast - Billfish Tourney - Bingo - Tomato Open- I Love Edisto Auction - Jim Bost Memorial - Shark Tourney

To view past blog entries from 2016 at Edisto click on Serpentarium - Jim Bost Memorial - Dolphin Slam - Cobia Tourney - Spring Shorebird Synergy - Bovine Bones on Beach - Edisto River book 

2021 Edisto Belles Beach Walk - Start / Finish at Wyndham Cabana

2021 Group Photo at Wyndham Cabana

The Edisto Belles group was founded ten years ago to raise awareness about early detection of breast cancer, and to form a support group for women at Edisto Island. Their annual Beach Walk fundraiser was held on September 4, and the event enjoyed perfect walking weather to start off the Labor Day weekend. A venue change for 2021 had the group and its supporters meet at the beachfront Cabana owned by Wyndham Resorts, which also served as the Start and Finish Line for the fifty-eight walkers who turned out at 9 a.m. on a Saturday morning.

'Til the Bell is no longer needed T-shirt

The golden rays of early sunlight illuminated the sand in the dunes, with a light breeze causing the sea oats to dance, while pelicans flew overhead. “This is an amazing venue for our walk this year, right here on front beach,” said Motte Parker, founder of Edisto Belles. “We have traditionally used a beach house on the second row for this event, but when that house was not available this year, Wyndham offered us their Cabana and we are very grateful. Our walk will go from here at Beach Access 20 down to the 600 block, and then back. And we want to welcome Mayor Pro Tem Crawford Moore and his wife Janice this morning.”

Sign Up Tent and Pink Laundry Line

I was glad to cover the Inaugural Edisto Belles
Beach Walk in 2015 

            

“The Belles Beach Walk is a real special event here at Edisto Beach, and this is a great morning for it,” said Crawford. “The Town of Edisto Beach is glad to offer our support, and one of our beach patrol UTV’s will be on station this morning in case anyone requires assistance. I truly believe that every family is touched by cancer in one way or another, and events like this are important to raise awareness about finding a cure for this disease, and to keep giving people hope.”

To view the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Press and Standard.

To view past blog entries from Edisto in 2021 click on Vacasa Purchases Atwood -  Gullah Blessing for Hutchinson House - Town Budget - Town Turtle Patrol - Edisto Billfish Tourney 

2021 Labor Day Hunt - Dove Season Opener

Boykin Puppy after his First Hunt

 The weather for Monday afternoon on Sept. 6 was sunny and hot. The Labor Day dove hunt tradition at this field in Canadys for me hit the ten-year mark in 2021, with the crowd looking a bit older than in the pictured from 2011 that we looked back on while waiting to go into the field. Hunters were put in place by the hunt master around 2:45 and the corn stalks I was sitting in provided little shade, so I started drinking bottled water to compensate for the sweaty conditions. 

Drake Rides Up Front!

The doves started flying right after we got to the field, but they were a little aloof, with a good bit of starting and stopping to the action. By 4 p.m. I had five doves in hand, and by 5 p.m. I was up to 11 doves in hand. When the hunt master picked me up at 5:45 I had 13 doves in hand, and feeling very fortunate for the opening day action. It was also a 'coulda woulda shoulda limit' for me since I did not shoot one dove that lit on the powerline right by me, and I got handcuffed picking up spent shells when another dove came right over me. But that's hunting!

Several youths were in the field with the fathers this day, and acting as bird dogs, but we also had an 80-year old gentleman who did quite well in the dove field heat. Always glad to see the hobby of hunting still vibrant in someone who is well into their retirement years! An informal supper of chicken wings and watermelon was served after the hunt, and the doves were stacked up for our host to have and serve up at the next dove hunt. 

To view past blog entries about dove season opening click on 2020 Labor Day - 2016 Labor Day - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2012 Labor Day - 2011 Labor Day - 2010 - 2009  

Labor Day crew before the hunt

2021 World Shorebird Day - Raising Awareness Globally

Grey Phalarope image on dinner plate;
Migrates to Coast of Ireland and UK

Growing up on a tidal creek in the Lowcountry gave this humble blogger the foundation of birding identification skills, learning the difference between wading birds and shorebirds for a start. Those same skills have now been applied over five decades living in the coastal plain of South Carolina, which is a quite prolific birding area, especially when you add in neotropical migratory songbirds. In 2014, the concept of a World Shorebird Day was born, and the message of global habitat loss affecting shorebirds is even more important today. 

The immediate coastline, and the food chain found therein, is often connected as it pertains to shorebirds. Beaches where nesting or resting can occur, are getting more pressure from human foot traffic, and in some cases from unleashed dog traffic. This has led SCDNR and others to establish 'No Go' zones on beaches to protect shorebird habitat. Shorebirds like the red knot and the whimbrel choose to stop along the S.C. coast from Harbor Island to Kiawah Island for the high quality coastline habitat. These birds are sometimes small and hard to identify, but their presence signals a healthy ecosystem.

To view past blog entries about Shorebirds click on 2014 / Inaugural World Shorebird Day - 2014 Moon Bird Book Review - 2015 World Shorebird Day - 2015 Manomet Workshop at Yawkey Preserve - 2016 The Narrow Edge Book Review - 2016 Spring Shorebird Synergy - 2017 Shorebird Symposium by Kiawah Conservancy - 2018 Shorebirds Talk at Seabrook Island Birders - 2020 Shorebird Protection on Botany Bay WMA

2021 Criterium Cycling Race - Speed Week

Speed Week races through S.C. and Ga.

 The tradition of pro cycling in downtown Walterboro circled back around for the 18th time, after skipping a year in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic. Some of the players remain the same, both on the organizational side in Walterboro, and on the bike racing side. For example, the 2019 Men’s Race winner was present and introduced at the starting line, competing here again on August 25, 2021. The day of racing begins at 4 p.m. and continues until dark, and the hot and humid conditions did not seem to affect these athletes that are driven by competition.

Racers turning by the Colleton Courthouse

A criterium race is defined as a bicycle race of a specified number of laps on a closed course over public roads closed to normal traffic. The bike race in downtown Walterboro fits that description perfectly, and plays a large role in the longevity of this event. The start and finish line was back on Washington Street in 2021, after it was moved temporarily to Hampton Street in 2019. The long, straight stretches on both Washington Street and Hampton Street are conducive to racing sprints where competitors can overtake the leaders in a surprisingly brief moment. Whoosh!

A VIP viewing area is also home to race fans that are willing to pay for a catered meal with refreshments, in order to support the race. A meal of tasty barbecue prepared by J.J. Lamb catering was served up in individual containers for on the go dining. A row of bleacher seating on Washington Street just past the Start / Finish Line is always a popular spot to cheer on the riders, and to listen to the constant stream of information coming from the event emcee, including how many laps to go, who is in the lead, and more.

To view the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Press and Standard.

Community Support is strong 
for the Kids Race Event

To view past blog entries about Criterium Cycling Speed Week click on 2017 - 2016- 2015 -  2014 -  2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010, - 2009 

Pro Men on the Winners' Podium